MIAMI — All the stars were out in full force for this year’s Formula 1 weekend — and Brunello Cucinelli‘s events were no exception.
The Italian designer celebrated both the Miami Grand Prix weekend alongside his eponymous brand’s first anniversary of the Miami Design District boutique. Guests were treated to an Italian feast at the Lido Surf Club in Miami, as homage to the brand’s deep Italian roots.
Attendees included Victor Cruz and Orange Calderón, Kate and Kevin Love, Scottish model and Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz’s girlfriend Rebecca Donaldson, Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and more — all ready for this weekend’s race day.
“I’ve loved Brunello Cucinelli from the very beginning,” Cruz told WWD. “Their style, tailoring, their fabrics. They’re known for their cashmere but I love what they do in suiting in general. The breathability factor of it — I feel like I could be off the coast of Italy with it or I could walk the New York streets as well. It meshes so well with my travel and things I do on a daily basis.”
Cruz added that he and Calderón appreciate how much the Brunello Cucinelli brand gives back through their foundation and overall philanthropy efforts.
“Anywhere where that I can have a little swag. If I’m getting on a boat and I’m in Miami, I always try to add [Brunello Cucinelli] to my look,” he said. “I’m always trying to be in something cool and breathable. As I’ve gotten older, any chance I get to put a loafer on with a good pair of pants and a polo and be comfortable, I’m going to take advantage of it.”
Victor Cruz and Orange Calderón
Courtesy of Brunello Cucinelli
Kate Love similarly said that as a mom of two now, her clothes have to be “effortless and easy,” but being put together is paramount in making her feel like herself — “when you wake up and put on a look, it really changes my mood and my energy.”
“Brunello Cucinelli is timeless,” she continued. “Any piece of clothing you buy is good quality and you know it will last forever. Everything they make is so thoughtful and special.”
Love shared that she and Kevin Love went to Solomeo, Italy, as part of their honeymoon and toured the brand’s factory. “It gave us a new understanding of the brand and how they really care about every single piece,” she said.
Meanwhile, Donaldson said she tends to veer toward fashion that has a “masculine touch, but still in a feminine way.” Her favorite silhouettes are oversize or boxy looks and she loves to wear trousers.
Francesco Tomassini, Luca Lisandroni, Brunello Cucinelli, Ramin Arani, Massimo Caronna and Pietro Arnaboldi.
Courtesy of Brunello Cucinelli
While race weekend was the major draw, many flew into town to enjoy the Miami sunshine and spend time with all their fellow Grand Prix attendees. “I love Miami, and I love visiting here,” said Donaldson. “There’s always such a good energy and being on the beach. There’s great food, always great vibes.”
Lewis Hamilton and Scuderia Ferrari continue to be the two names on everyone’s mind — both Love and Cruz noted their affinity for Hamilton and his new team. Cruz said he’s a huge Formula 1 fan overall and recently started following it in the last two years.
“I’m a Leclerc and Hamilton fan — so I’m a Ferrari fan now, because they have both!” Love said.
Even Mercedes team principal and CEO Toto Wolff and F1 Academy managing director Susie Wolff showed up at the last minute to attend the brand dinner — a testament to just how much fashion and Formula 1 have continued to be intertwined.
Cucinelli is also attending the Miami Grand Prix for the first time this year — after attending other Grands Prix on the calendar and the F1 75 event with Domenicali earlier this year.
The former NFL player said that throughout his career, Cruz was at the “precipice” of sport’s intersection with fashion — back since 2011 — and now sees just how much it has exponentially grown with the rise of football players being photographed walking into stadiums, the NBA tunnel fits and that athletes are collaborating with brands more than ever.
“I always knew that the cutting-edge of what young kids wanna wear and what fashion looks like is what clothes look like on athletes and I’m excited to see that brand and ethos is growing. And to say that I saw it from the beginning is pretty cool, too.”